Washington County Land and Water Legacy Program takes important step

The Land & Water Legacy Program aims to protect water quality, woodlands and other natural areas. The Washington County Board of Commissioners recently took action toward facilitating the conservation program mandated by voters in 2006.

On November 7th, 2006 the voters in Washington County passed a $20,000,000 referendum to protect water quality, woodlands and other natural areas. Since the referendum passed, a number of high quality projects have been submitted to the program for funding consideration. However, the Washington County Board of Commissioners have decided, to date, not to sell the bonds, the proceeds from which are required carry out the goals of the program. But on December 15th, the County Board took the important step of approving a budget for 2010 that includes debt service on the bonds that would be used to fund the program.

"This is an important step for the program," said FMR Executive Director, Whitney Clark. "We congratulate the County Board for their commitment to the Land and Water Legacy Program. With the real estate market slumping this is a very opportune time to be doing land conservation. We look forward to working with the County on several very promising projects," he said.

The next step in launching the program will be for the Board to approve the sale of the bonds, probably in the last half of 2010. At that point the funds will be available to begin purchasing properties that meet the County's critieria.